By: Callista Hansen
Photo Courtesy of 7-Eleven Hawaii
HONOLULU, HI – 7-Eleven Hawai‘i, home of Hawai‘i’s best Spam® Musubis, has been servicing our islands for decades with a variety of locally influenced foods and snacks that many have grown to love. On December 22nd, 1989 when 7-Eleven Japan acquired the 7-Eleven stores in Hawai‘i from the Southland Company, Japan’s goal has always been to support 7-Eleven Hawai‘i as an independent entity, allowing for it to evolve with the people of Hawai‘i. This commitment established at the foundation is why its offerings are different from 7-Eleven Inc., or any other 7-Eleven around the world.
Local Influence
Since 1989, 7-Eleven Hawai‘i has been locally operated, making centralized buying and operating decisions from its headquarters, which is based in none other than our very own city of Honolulu. As a result, customers can find local influences even in its legacy brands, whether it is a Lilikoi BIG GULP® or Haupia SLURPEE®.
7-Eleven Hawai‘i has had a long-standing partnership with Harders Hawai‘i, and in the past have had SLURPEE® flavors like Li Hing Gummy Bear, Ube, Sour Apple, and Melon. With the company’s choices and brand being heavily guided by and immersed in the local culture, customers can find locally made products at nearly every corner of its store, including but not limited to: Kulolo from Pomai Kulolo, Spanish Rolls from Nanding’s Bakery, Local snacks from Enjoy, Kulolo Ice Cream Bar from Franny’s, Mochi and snacks from Hawai‘i Candy, Hawaiian Style Jerky by DE.HI Jerky, Lion and Royal Kona coffee from Hawai‘i Coffee.
Photo Courtesy of Landen Tsuda (@chewygrindz)
Supporting Hawai‘i’s Agriculture
While 7-Eleven Hawai‘i has remained dedicated in sourcing products from local retailers and supporting local businesses, it has also committed itself to supporting Hawai‘i’s agriculture. Over the past four years, it has partnered with the Culinary Institute of the Pacific in hosting a culinary contest with Kapi‘olani Community College and Leeward Community College students. Part of the criteria is to use a minimum of two locally sourced ingredients.
In 2021, it launched the first place winning Ulu Beef Stew Bento, which featured local ulu and green beans. Earlier this year, in addition to the winning beef stew dish, the company launched a Vegan Rigatoni Bolognese, which had also been featured in the culinary contest. On June 14, the local convenient store plans to launch a Fried Tofu with Gomoku Rice Bento, yet another dish created as a part of the contest and winning 2nd place in the competition.
In addition to its support of local agriculture, aside from its involvement with the local culinary contest, 7-Eleven Hawai‘i also offers dishes of its own that are made with locally sourced ingredients. One of these dishes include its Miso Salmon Konbu Musubi Roll. The musubi roll was introduced in 2020 and contains salmon dressed in white miso and teriyaki sauce, savory konbu, furikake, white rice, and nori. To ensure its softness, the salmon is soaked overnight in dashi and oven-baked.
As Your Neighborhood Store (company’s tagline), 7-Eleven Hawai‘i feels it’s important to contribute to the local community and support them in their success; especially as over the years, the community has played an integral role in the company’s own success. This sense of responsibility and appreciation that they have for Hawai‘i translates in how it conducts business and the ways in which it gives back. The next time you find yourself making a quick stop at the nearest 7-Eleven Hawai‘i, don’t miss out on the opportunity to indulge in some of Hawai‘i’s best and locally grown offerings.
For More Information:
65 Locations Statewide
Office Location: 1602 Nu‘uanu Ave. 2nd Floor Honolulu, HI 96817
Phone: (808)447-7181
Website: www.7elevenhawaii.com
Instagram: @7elevenhi
Facebook: 7ElevenHI
Twitter: @7ElevenHawaii